Published: Tuesday, April 23, 2013 at 10:14 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, April 23, 2013 at 10:14 a.m.

The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners this week took the first step toward finding a solid waste solution since killing the much-debated incinerator proposal earlier this year.

The now-defunct Covanta contract called for the New Jersey-based company to spend 15 months refurbishing the county's mothballed incinerator. But debate over the proposal went back and forth for more than a year before the board finally told county staff that they needed new options.

As a result, county Environmental Management Director Joe Suleyman said the county put out a call for proposals from solid waste consulting firms to complete an analysis and create a comprehensive solid waste management plan for the county.

Even with the recently approved county landfill expansion, space in the landfill just off U.S. 421 North is at a premium and the commissioners must find another way to get rid of the county's trash.

The board approved the staff's recommendation to award consulting services for the development of a new trash plan to Massachusetts-based CDM Smith, Inc. with a 4-1 vote. Commissioner Jonathan Barfield was the lone opposing vote.

The consulting firm will fulfill the contract in two phases.

The first phase will look specifically at what New Hanover County is currently doing in terms of solid waste and will look at new ways for the county to handle it. The firm will then vet each proposal for the county and at the end of phase one will bring forward a recommendation to the commissioners.

Phase two will look at how long it will take the county to implement the recommended solutions, how many people it will serve and the statistics of how it will help the county's solid waste problem.

"I appreciate you taking this thorough approach that we had requested to look at our different options," vice chairman Beth Dawson said. "We need to get a fresh set of eyes and ears on this. Let's look at our assets, let's look at what we're doing ... We have a landfill but let's look at ways to preserve that air space and continue to serve our community and our customers for many years to come."

CDM Smith will have 90 days to complete phase one and an additional 90 days for phase two.

The contract is for $131,000 and will be covered in full by the environmental management enterprise fund.

<p>The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners this week took the first step toward finding a solid waste solution since killing the much-debated incinerator proposal earlier this year.</p><p>The now-defunct Covanta contract called for the New Jersey-based company to spend 15 months refurbishing the county's mothballed incinerator. But debate over the proposal went back and forth for more than a year before the board finally told county staff that they needed new options.</p><p>As a result, county Environmental Management Director Joe Suleyman said the county put out a call for proposals from solid waste consulting firms to complete an analysis and create a comprehensive solid waste management plan for the county.</p><p>Even with the recently approved county landfill expansion, space in the landfill just off U.S. 421 North is at a premium and the commissioners must find another way to get rid of the county's trash.</p><p>The board approved the staff's recommendation to award consulting services for the development of a new trash plan to Massachusetts-based CDM Smith, Inc. with a 4-1 vote. Commissioner Jonathan Barfield was the lone opposing vote.</p><p>The consulting firm will fulfill the contract in two phases.</p><p>The first phase will look specifically at what New Hanover County is currently doing in terms of solid waste and will look at new ways for the county to handle it. The firm will then vet each proposal for the county and at the end of phase one will bring forward a recommendation to the commissioners.</p><p>Phase two will look at how long it will take the county to implement the recommended solutions, how many people it will serve and the statistics of how it will help the county's solid waste problem.</p><p>"I appreciate you taking this thorough approach that we had requested to look at our different options," vice chairman Beth Dawson said. "We need to get a fresh set of eyes and ears on this. Let's look at our assets, let's look at what we're doing ... We have a landfill but let's look at ways to preserve that air space and continue to serve our community and our customers for many years to come."</p><p>CDM Smith will have 90 days to complete phase one and an additional 90 days for phase two.</p><p>The contract is for $131,000 and will be covered in full by the environmental management enterprise fund. </p><p>Ashley Withers: 343-2223</p><p>On <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/news41"><b>Twitter</b></a>: @AshleyWithers</p>